The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation, enhancing regional maritime governance and accelerating the development of the Blue Economy across West Africa.
The agreement, signed in Lagos, provides a framework for closer collaboration in maritime safety and security, mutual recognition of Certificates of Competency (CoC), institutional capacity building, knowledge sharing, comparative research, joint enforcement initiatives and coordinated engagement at regional and international maritime fora.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, commended Ghana for its support during Nigeria’s successful re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Category C Council, describing the enduring relationship between the two countries as a catalyst for maritime development in the region.
He said the agreement would only achieve its objectives through effective implementation and measurable outcomes. “We will continue to work together to grow our economies and make the maritime sector safer. This Memorandum of Understanding is a commitment to do better.
NIMASA will fully play its part in implementing the agreement, while both institutions must establish annual implementation agendas to monitor progress and deliver tangible results,” Mobereola said. He stressed that, as leading maritime nations in West and Central Africa, Nigeria and Ghana have a shared responsibility to drive regional maritime growth and unlock the vast economic potential of the blue economy through stronger collaboration.
Under the agreement, both agencies will establish a Joint Consultative Team to develop action plans, coordinate implementation and monitor agreed programmes through designated focal persons. The team will meet twice a year, alternating between Nigeria and Ghana, to review progress and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The MoU is expected to bolster maritime governance, improve institutional capacity, support evidence-based policymaking through comparative research and enhance regulatory effectiveness. It also seeks to reinforce joint efforts to combat piracy, armed robbery at sea and maritime terrorism, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea.
Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, described the agreement as a major milestone in the longstanding partnership between the two countries. He acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership in the region, noting that Ghana had benefited significantly from Nigerian maritime initiatives, including the Cabotage regime, ship registry and regulatory frameworks.
“This Memorandum of Understanding consolidates an already mutually beneficial relationship. Ghana remains fully committed to implementing every aspect of the agreement as we continue to learn from one another and work together to strengthen maritime administration across the region,” he said.